The promotion of sex and professional sports go hand-in-hand. So of course it makes perfect sense the NFL would choose Sports Illustrated swimsuit and Victoria’s Secret model Marisa Miller as its spokesperson, according to online reports.

Miller, 30, will appear in print and television ads and travel to London to promote the 49ers-Denver Broncos game Sunday, October 31, 2010 at Wembley Stadium.

“Marisa’s love for the NFL and our sport made her ideally suited for this role,” Chris Parsons, vice president of NFL International told the Hollywood Reporter. “We look forward to working with her.”

Because her love of football is exactly what you think about when you see Marisa Miller. Right?

Let’s review. The NFL investigated the New York Jets for supposedly cat calling Ines Sainz in a locker room. And now a well-known bikini and underwear model is representing the brand of the NFL?

Sounds to me like the NFL is sending a very mixed message to its players with this recent move.

There’s no doubt Marisa Miller will do a fine job generating interest from the public. Her 2008 SI cover garnered 226 million web hits according to the New York Post. But I’m pretty sure that interest won’t have anything to do with football.

Walter Iooss could very well be the most hated man in America. Or at least, the most envied.

At 66-years-old, Walter Iooss has built a respectable career as a photographer for Sports Illustrated shooting some of the most memorable events and images for the past 47 years. But of all the shoots, there is just one event that captivates males everywhere; the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition.